Calumet Township
Septic Tank Elimination Project (STEP)

Lake County's
Calumet Septic Tank Elimination Project (STEP)

Meetings

The first Public Meeting regarding the project was held on November 10, 2022. Below please find the sets of plans that were presented at the Public Meeting, a video of the presentation itself and a PDF version of the presentation and materials that were distributed at the meeting.

Supporting Materials for the Meeting:
View Calumet STEP Interceptor - 25% Plans PDF
View Calumet STEP Basin 3 - 25% Plans PDF
View Calumet STEP Basin 7 - 25% Plans PDF
View Calumet STEP Basin 10 - 25% Plans PDF

Calumet STEP Public Outreach Meeting Presentation
Calumet STEP Public Outreach Meeting Handout

Public Outreach Meeting Video 11.10.22:

Meetings

The first Public Meeting regarding the project has been scheduled for November 10, 2022.

Doors Open: 5:30pm CST
Meeting Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm CST
Location: Calumet New Tech High School Gymnasium (use Door D off of Calhoun Street)
3900 Calhoun Street, Gary, IN 46408
Topic: Calumet Township STEP Public Outreach

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85459542752?pwd=ODhXWXFXeWtBSEJWWFJNMm1UdkRqUT09
Meeting ID: 854 5954 2752
Passcode: 248732

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Meeting ID: 854 5954 2752
Passcode: 248732

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Supporting Materials for the Meeting:
View Calumet STEP Interceptor - 25% Plans PDF
View Calumet STEP Basin 3 - 25% Plans PDF
View Calumet STEP Basin 7 - 25% Plans PDF
View Calumet STEP Basin 10 - 25% Plans PDF

STEP Summary

The Calumet Septic Tank Elimination Project (STEP) is an effort by Lake County to provide sanitary sewer service to a currently unserved area of unincorporated Calumet Township. VS Engineering is leading the design and construction team for the project on behalf of Lake County. The project area is bordered, in general, by Ridge Road to the north, 53rd Avenue to the south, Colfax Street to the west and Cleveland Street to the east and totals approximately 4500 acres and 2500 potential sanitary sewer customers.

Calumet Septic Tank Elimination Project map

STEP Project Map. Click photo to enlarge.
Click here to view PDF

All areas are expected to be served with sanitary sewers eventually; however, a project of this scale requires a phased approach. Therefore, the project has been further subdivided into an initial engineering and construction phase, called Construction Package 1 and Future Construction Packages. Construction Package 1 consists of:

  • Design and construction of all mains, services, and decommissioning of septic tanks for all properties in Basins 3, 7, and 10.
  • Design and construction of an interceptor sewer that will consolidate flow from all basins into a single pipe that mainly parallels the Cady Marsh Ditch.
  • Design and construction of a pump station and force main pipe that will convey wastewater flow from the entire project area into an adjacent wastewater utility for treatment.

Also included in this initial phase is Preliminary Engineering for Basins 4 & 5. This effort will support the installation of a sanitary sewer along the 45th Avenue corridor between Whitcomb and Colfax in coordination with an existing County roadway reconstruction project along 45th Avenue. It should be noted that the sanitary sewer to be installed in Basins 4 & 5 and along 45th Avenue depends on other stages of construction and will not go into service for several years.

Please refer to additional materials below. There is a questionnaire packet that will help answer questions and provide the design team with valuable feedback about specific properties within the project area. Frequently Asked Questions should also help answer most of the common questions.

Timeline of Project Stages

PROJECT PHASE

TIME FRAME

Basin 3,7,10 – Design Phase

Current – April, 2023

Basin 3, 7, 10 - Survey

Current – October, 2022

Interceptor – Design Phase

Current – April, 2023

Start of Basin 3,7,10 and Interceptor Construction

September, 2023

Phase 2 Design/Construction

2024/2025

Basin 4,5 – Preliminary Design Phase

Current – September, 2022

Timeline of Project Stages

Below please find a project timeline for the various stages of Phase 1 of the project.

Below please find a project timeline for the various stages of Phase 1 of the project.

Basin 3,7,10 – Design Phase
Current – April, 2023

Basin 3, 7, 10 - Survey
Current – October, 2022

Interceptor – Design Phase
Current – April, 2023

Start of Basin 3,7,10 and Interceptor Construction
September, 2023

Phase 2 Design/Construction
2024/2025

Basin 4,5 – Preliminary Design Phase
Current – September, 2022

Project Team

VS Engineering-LOGO
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Lakeside County-Indiana-Logo
VS Engineering-LOGOAmerican%20Structurepoint%20Logo%20 %20Full%20Color%20-%20Black%20WordsLakeside County-Indiana-Logo

FAQs

Who is paying for the initial installation costs?
The initial installation costs for the sanitary system construction are being paid for by the Lake County government. Funding for the project has been obtained from a combination of County development funds and grants from the Federal government.
Will an easement or right-of-entry be required from each property owner?
A right-of-entry will be necessary for the contractor to enter private property and construct laterals, grinder pump stations, and other sewer infrastructure that will not be owned and maintained by the County. All sewer infrastructure that is outside of public ROW or sewer easement is owned by the property owner. The County will only be responsible for maintaining infrastructure that is owned by the County. Private sewer laterals and grinder pump stations will need to be maintained by the property owner.
Who is paying for long term maintenance costs?
Long term maintenance costs of individual sanitary facilities (e.g. sewer service, grinder station, etc.) will be the responsibility of the property owner.
What are the annual/monthly sewer fees?
While the final monthly rate has yet to be confirmed, ongoing discussions between Lake County and the surrounding sanitary districts have results in a rate range of $65.00 to $85.00 monthly.
When will this work be taking place? How will my property be affected?
Project construction is slated to begin in Autumn of 2023. As more detailed construction timelines are developed, they will be posted to this web site.
Am I required to connect immediately or can I wait until my current septic system fails? If I wait, will Lake County still pay for my connection/grinder station?
You are not required to connect immediately. However, if you opt not to connect at this time, the County will not pay for your connection after the project is complete. All costs to connect in the future will be the responsibility of the property owner. Should your septic system fail in the future, if you're within 300 feet of the newly installed system, you will be required to connect to the system at your own expense. The Health Department will enforce this.
What kind of disturbance to my lawn can I expect? Will the County be restoring my lawn to existing condition?
Depending on the home/parcel location within each Basin, the County may be installing a sanitary service pipe, a grinder station or both. This will involve digging a trench in each yard to the sanitary sewer service point at each home. The County will place seed and mulch over the disturbed area and will monitor growth to ensure the seed takes.
I have a drainage issue in my yard. Will the project help with that?
Though it is not the stated intent of the project to address drainage issues, it may be possible to resolve some drainage issues in the course of the installation process. These issues will be identified via the questionnaire which has already been circulated to all residents/owners of Basins 3, 7 and 10 and will be resolved on a case-by-case basis.

FAQs

Who is paying for the initial installation costs?
The initial installation costs for the sanitary system construction are being paid for by the Lake County government. Funding for the project has been obtained from a combination of County development funds and grants from the Federal government.
Will an easement or right-of-entry be required from each property owner?
A right-of-entry will be necessary for the contractor to enter private property and construct laterals, grinder pump stations, and other sewer infrastructure that will not be owned and maintained by the County. All sewer infrastructure that is outside of public ROW or sewer easement is owned by the property owner. The County will only be responsible for maintaining infrastructure that is owned by the County. Private sewer laterals and grinder pump stations will need to be maintained by the property owner.
Who is paying for long term maintenance costs?
Long term maintenance costs of individual sanitary facilities (e.g. sewer service, grinder station, etc.) will be the responsibility of the property owner.
What are the annual/monthly sewer fees?
While the final monthly rate has yet to be confirmed, ongoing discussions between Lake County and the surrounding sanitary districts have results in a rate range of $65.00 to $85.00 monthly.
When will this work be taking place? How will my property be affected?
Project construction is slated to begin in Autumn of 2023. As more detailed construction timelines are developed, they will be posted to this web site.
Am I required to connect immediately or can I wait until my current septic system fails? If I wait, will Lake County still pay for my connection/grinder station?
You are not required to connect immediately. However, if you opt not to connect at this time, the County will not pay for your connection after the project is complete. All costs to connect in the future will be the responsibility of the property owner. Should your septic system fail in the future, if you're within 300 feet of the newly installed system, you will be required to connect to the system at your own expense. The Health Department will enforce this.
What kind of disturbance to my lawn can I expect? Will the County be restoring my lawn to existing condition?
Depending on the home/parcel location within each Basin, the County may be installing a sanitary service pipe, a grinder station or both. This will involve digging a trench in each yard to the sanitary sewer service point at each home. The County will place seed and mulch over the disturbed area and will monitor growth to ensure the seed takes.
I have a drainage issue in my yard. Will the project help with that?
Though it is not the stated intent of the project to address drainage issues, it may be possible to resolve some drainage issues in the course of the installation process. These issues will be identified via the questionnaire which has already been circulated to all residents/owners of Basins 3, 7 and 10 and will be resolved on a case-by-case basis.

Project Questionnaire / Survey Packet

If your home/parcel is in Basins 3, 7 or 10, survey work in your area has already commenced and will be ongoing.
Questionnaires and survey notices regarding your property have already been sent via United States Postal Service to every property owner in those basins.

If you haven’t received a questionnaire/survey packet and your home/parcel is located within Basins 3, 7 or 10, please find a link below to the questionnaire/survey packet that was distributed to home/parcel owners within those districts at the beginning of July, 2022. Please fill out the questionnaire and return it to the indicated address at your convenience. 

You may also attach the form electronically to the Contact Us form and submit it to the Project Team directly.

Fill Out Questionnaire

Contact Us

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out.
The project team may be reached by filling out the following form.

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